Den of Thieves
They may not reinvent anything, but they entertain. Den of Thieves is one of those films that, without offering anything especially new, manages to hold your interest thanks to quite a solid execution. It has tension, well-measured action and the odd twist that works... although the main problem is that you don't empathize with anyone.
And that's no accident: all the characters, to a greater or lesser degree, are rather unpleasant. The sheriff, in particular, is built so that you take a dislike to him from the first minute. Curiously, that ends up working in favor of the group of thieves, who, without being exactly lovable, manage to awaken some sympathy by contrast. If you have to pick a side, you end up wanting the heist to go well for them.
The pace, although somewhat uneven in the middle stretch, holds firm for much of the running time, and it has some quite effective moments in terms of tension. It may go on a little longer than necessary, but it doesn't become tedious. You can tell there is craft behind it, although at times the script falls back on clichés or strives to give depth to characters who never quite convince.
In short: a fairly classic heist film that doesn't try to please everyone, but that delivers if you're looking for action, gunfire and a bit of nastiness. It won't change your life, but it might save you a night on the couch.
And that's no accident: all the characters, to a greater or lesser degree, are rather unpleasant. The sheriff, in particular, is built so that you take a dislike to him from the first minute. Curiously, that ends up working in favor of the group of thieves, who, without being exactly lovable, manage to awaken some sympathy by contrast. If you have to pick a side, you end up wanting the heist to go well for them.
The pace, although somewhat uneven in the middle stretch, holds firm for much of the running time, and it has some quite effective moments in terms of tension. It may go on a little longer than necessary, but it doesn't become tedious. You can tell there is craft behind it, although at times the script falls back on clichés or strives to give depth to characters who never quite convince.
In short: a fairly classic heist film that doesn't try to please everyone, but that delivers if you're looking for action, gunfire and a bit of nastiness. It won't change your life, but it might save you a night on the couch.
Mini Review: They may not reinvent anything, but they entertain. Den of Thieves is one of those films that, without offering anything especially new, manages to hold your interest thanks to quite a solid execution. It has tension, well-measured action and the odd twist that works... although the main problem is that you don't empathize with anyone. And that's no accident: all the characters, to a greater or lesser degree, are rather unpleasant. The sheriff,...
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